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As essential parts for modern RVer, RV solar panel kits guide for beginners is necessary. Nowadays, solar panels are almost a must-have equipment for RVs. As long as there is space on the roof, the cost can be ignored, because it can make you worry free with electricity.
In this article, RV solar panel kits guide for beginners will be discussed mainly from the need for RV solar panel kits to how to choose a suitable RV solar panel kits power for your RV electrical system.
Do you really need a solar energy system
Before investing in RV solar panel kits, players who often go to the campsite to play actually don't add a lot of solar panels because the campsite has enough electric piles to supplement them. Players who play self driving may need to change parking locations every two to three days, so charging while driving is often their main charging mode.
The people who truly have a demand for solar panels for RV are those who stay in one place for a long time, may not have other charging methods, and do not want to spend money on charging.
Therefore, the three types of users who truly need solar energy systems are long-term residents (more than one week), outdoor campers who lack electricity supply, or large electricity users who are anxious about electricity and have a daily electricity bill of more than 5 yuan.
Electricity demand for solar panel power
When configuring RV solar panel kits, the specific number of solar panels installed depends on the usage of the RV.
Most of the electricity replenishment that requires solar panels is based on the off grid state. In this state, we can consider the following aspects to determine the number of solar panels you need.
Daily electricity consumption
Firstly, you must know how much electricity is used in a day, and a simple way is to estimate it.
This calculation is fundamental for sizing RV solar panel kits. For example, if your RV is equipped with daily electricity appliances such as a TV, refrigerator, and lighting fixtures, and the TV power is 40W, then watching for two hours a day would be 80W; The energy consumption of the 142L RV refrigerator is 0.54kWh/24h; The power consumption of lamps and sockets is calculated as 10W, which is 240W in 24 hours; The energy consumption of the charging inverter integrated machine is 30W, and it requires 720W for a day of constant operation; If there are other options, you can refer to the electrical manual on your RV to roughly calculate the daily electricity consumption of your RV.
As for the electricity consumption of the air conditioner, as mentioned above, in order to charge with solar energy, it needs to be parked in the sun, which results in the need for more electricity to be used for the full power operation of the air conditioner.
The amount of electricity generated by solar panels is actually composed of many factors. In an ideal state, let's assume that a 100W solar panel can generate an average of 350W of electricity per day. Based on the daily electricity consumption mentioned above (assuming a daily electricity consumption of 1.6 kWh), we need to install at least 460W solar panels to achieve a replenishment of 1.6 kWh of electricity.
Will a 200W solar panel run a 12V fridge
A common configuration in RV solar panel kits: If it is a 12V refrigerator with a power of about 50W, the 200W solar panel can theoretically generate enough electricity to meet its operating needs and still have surplus when illuminated.
Other key factors in actual operation
- Energy storage
The refrigerator requires a continuous and stable power supply. In complete RV solar panel kits, energy storage devices (such as batteries) store electrical energy to power refrigerators at night or in low light conditions. The capacity of the battery will affect the operating time of the entire solar system for RV. If you choose a battery with a smaller capacity, it may quickly deplete its power and cannot guarantee long-term operation of the refrigerator.
- Environmental factor
The weather conditions have a significant impact on the power generation of solar panels. Continuous rainy and cloudy days may lead to a severe shortage of power generation, which cannot meet the electricity demand of refrigerators. Seasonal changes can also affect the duration and intensity of sunlight. In winter, when the sunlight duration is short and the intensity is weak, the power generation efficiency will be greatly reduced.
- Circuit system
The circuit connection between the solar panel and the refrigerator needs to be designed reasonably, including a suitable controller to manage the charging and discharging process, to prevent overcharging and overdischarging from causing damage to the battery and equipment.
Therefore, with suitable energy storage equipment and favorable environmental conditions, a 200W solar panel may be able to operate a 12V refrigerator with partial power requirements. However, to ensure the stability and reliability of the entire power supply system, multiple factors need to be comprehensively considered and reasonably configured.
Power selection golden range
Theoretical calculation formula: Required power = Daily power consumption/(Effective daylight hours * System efficiency)
This formula is crucial when designing RV solar panel kits. Through practical verification, the 300-400W system is most suitable for balancing cost and efficiency. When choosing RV solar panel kits, attention should be paid to the balance between roof space and power requirements, not the bigger the better.
What power is suitable for you
RV solar panel kits play an important role in RVs, and many RV users install a set of solar panels after purchasing a new car. Some RVs also come standard with solar panels when they leave the factory. So is it true that the higher the power of the solar panel, the better? The more expensive the better?
If the rated power of a solar panel is 400W, under standard light intensity and battery power shortage, the theoretical hourly storage capacity is 400W / 18V × 12V × 1h=0.267kW · h, which is commonly referred to as 0.267 kWh. If calculated based on an average daily light exposure of 6 hours. So 0.267kWh × 6=1.602kWh, approximately 1.6 kWh of electricity.
After calculation, we can see that theoretically, a set of 400W solar panels can generate 1.6 kWh of electricity per day. If the light intensity and intermediate energy loss are included, the charging efficiency is calculated at 70%, and the actual daily charging amount is 1.6 × 0.7=1.12 kWh of electricity.
So what electrical appliances can operate normally with this 1.12 kWh of electricity? Assuming a motorhome's lighting equipment is temporarily calculated at 100W, an 80W refrigerator, an 80W LCD TV, a 30W laptop and mobile phone, the total power is about 300W, which means that these electrical devices can work together to maintain 1.6 ÷ 0.3=5.3 hours. This explains why 300-400W RV solar panel kits are most recommended and many professional players would recommend choosing solar energy between 300-400W.
In addition, the following are the power consumption and daily electricity consumption of RV appliances for readers' reference.
- Firstly, we need to know the power consumption of the commonly used household appliances in the RV and how much electricity they consume in a day.
- A 21 inch TV with a power of approximately 50 watts is expected to be used for 10 hours a day, with a cumulative power consumption of 500 watts, about 0.5 kWh.
- A 90 liter refrigerator that can be used all day and consumes no more than 0.5 degrees of electricity cumulatively. (It is generally recommended to use a thermostat so that the start time of the refrigerator can be controlled and will not exceed 0.2 degrees Celsius in a day.)
- A 100 watt laptop (usually 60 watts) is expected to be used for 5 hours a day, with a cumulative power consumption of 500 watts, approximately 0.5 kWh.
- A rice cooker with a capacity of around 800 watts and a capacity of 4L is expected to be used twice a day for half an hour, consuming a total of 400 watts of electricity, approximately 0.4 kWh.
- A 900 watt electric pressure cooker is expected to be used twice a day for half an hour, with a cumulative power consumption of 450 watts, approximately 0.45 kWh.
- An electric water heater with a capacity of around 800 watts and a capacity of 4L is expected to be used 3 times a day for 5 minutes each time, consuming a total of 200 watts of electricity, approximately 0.2 kWh.
- A 10 watt LED light, calculated based on 3 units, consumes a total of 150 watts or approximately 0.15 kWh of electricity when used for 5 hours a day.
- A 500 watt resistance wire electric stove (not recommended for induction cookers, high power and power consumption) is expected to be used twice a day for 20 minutes each time, with a cumulative power consumption of 350 watts, approximately 0.35 kWh.
- Based on a one horsepower air conditioner, it costs about 1000 watts per hour. If it is turned on for 5 hours, it consumes approximately 5 kWh of electricity.
Of course, these are just a part of the RV electrical appliances. There are still many places where RVs need electricity, so a good way to solve the problem of RV electricity consumption is very important. Solar energy may not be able to completely solve these problems, but it is indeed the most ideal RV electrical auxiliary equipment at present!
RV solar panel kits type analysis
RV solar panel kits can be divided into fixed solar panels and portable solar panels. The following will roughly introduce these solar panels.
We all know that the roof space of RVs is limited, so using monocrystalline panels in RVs is the best choice because it occupies the smallest area.
Fixed solar panels further can be divided into rigid panels and flexible panels.
Rigid solar panel
A solar panel with tempered glass covering on its surface is a rigid solar panel. They come in different sizes, and most of them have aluminum frames installed around them. Their structure can resist hail, dust, and strong winds. Glass has scratch resistance and a long service life.
Characteristics of rigid solar panels
Support high power, low price, sturdy and durable, long warranty period.
Flexible solar panel
The surface of the flexible solar panel is covered with a protective film. Due to the lack of a frame, it has a compact appearance, light weight, and can be bent appropriately, especially suitable for placement on curled surfaces. However, excessive bending of the panel often leads to damage to the internal chips and even short circuits between the battery cells. Due to these issues, the warranty period for flexible solar panels is often shorter than that for rigid solar panels. Also, flexible panels are not easy to adjust the lighting angle because their position depends on the surface they are attached to.
Characteristics of flexible solar panels Thin, lightweight, can be bent appropriately, easily scratched, and have a short lifespan.
When using flexible panels, the more the panel bends, the lower the efficiency. This is because the panel's power generation effect is optimal only when the entire panel receives consistent light. However, flexible solar panels receive inconsistent lighting, with some areas receiving more and others receiving less, resulting in low power generation efficiency.
Summary of the pros and cons of fixed solar panels above
Advantages
- As soon as the sun comes out, they start collecting electricity.
- They do not occupy valuable interior space.
- They are not easily stolen.
- Better adapt to people who have high electricity consumption and require over 200W of solar energy.
- It can provide shade for vehicles to help reduce heat.
Disadvantages
- They find it difficult to obtain the optimal angle of sunlight exposure.
- The installation workload is relatively large· Increase the roof height and wind resistance. Reducing the selection of roof layout makes it difficult to install air conditioning.
- It is necessary to park the vehicle in the sunlight to obtain electricity, which is quite contradictory during high temperatures in summer.
In addition to fixed panels, portable solar panels are also very friendly in mobile photovoltaic systems. Portable solar panels and solar suitcases are relatively lightweight and can be placed in cars to take out during camping. If you want to charge your phone or laptop at a camping site, then these are excellent choices.
The following are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of solar panel.
Advantages of portable panels
- For those who find assembly laborious, portable panels are more effortless and cost-effective. You can aim towards sunlight for optimal illumination.
- Suitable for various vehicles (small cars, SUVs, etc.) When your vehicle is parked in a cool place, it can also generate electricity.
Disadvantages of portable panels
- Installation is required every time at the campsite.
- Occupying interior space, especially panels with a power of over 200W.
- Unable to charge while driving, this limitation differentiates them from permanent RV solar panel kits.
- Not very suitable for use in the city.
How to install RV solar panel kits
Proper installation of RV solar panel kits requires not simply a matter of installing them casually. It is necessary to calculate how many watts of solar modules you need based on the electricity consumption of your RV's electrical appliances, and then calculate how much battery you need based on how many days of electricity reserve you need. It also depends on whether the calculated modules can meet the needs of the roof area, whether the design is reasonable, and then make improvements.
For installing solar modules, it is important to note that firstly, do not step on them; Secondly, there should be no shadow covering. The fixed solar panels are permanently installed on the top of the RV. Add a tilted mounting bracket to manually adjust the angle and achieve optimal power generation efficiency.
Taking China as an example, most parts of China are located in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. When installing, it is best for the solar panels to form a certain angle with the roof of the car, which makes it easier to absorb sunlight. According to a car enthusiast's test, the conversion efficiency of flat solar panels is much lower than that of angled installation.
When installing solar panels, please note that solar panels perform best at low temperatures. It is best to leave a gap between the panel and the roof to allow air circulation and reduce the temperature of the panel. Here is how to install solar panel in detail for home but you can learn some similarity in the installation.
Directly installing or bonding the panel to the roof will result in loss of bottom cooling airflow. Most rigid solar panels, which are solar panels covered with tempered glass on the surface, have some gaps inside the frame. This can prevent solar panels from overheating and affecting power generation efficiency.
Portable solar panels and solar suitcases are relatively lightweight and can be placed in cars to take out during camping. If you want to charge your phone or laptop at a camping site, then these are excellent choices.
When buying solar panels, a controller must be installed to prevent overcharging and overdischarging of the battery. Why don't you use the car for a few days? The sun happens to be scorching during these days. If you don't have a controller and keep charging the battery, overcharging will mean that your battery has a high probability of early failure.
Maintenance tips for your RV solar panel kits
Maintaining RV solar panel kits involves regular care after installation. Solar panel maintenance is also important. If you frequently drive in areas with frequent dust or sandstorms, remember to clean the surface of the solar panels regularly to prevent long-term dust accumulation, which can lead to poor power generation efficiency.
Before heavy rain, all waterproof seals should be checked for good condition and any signs of water leakage. During heavy snowfall, it is necessary to clean the solar panels in a timely manner to avoid snow and ice on the surface of the panels. After encountering hail weather, the surface of the solar panel should be carefully inspected.
Whether it's dust or winter snow, if not cleaned in a timely manner and left on top of solar panels for a long time, the solar panels are prone to local burnout, which can affect their normal operation.
So in order to maintain normal illumination of solar street lights, clean the solar panels periodically or after a trip to keep them clean and free from foreign objects.
Maintenance of wiring harness. Regularly check to prevent wire harness aging, and it is generally recommended to replace the wire harness every 3-5 years.
The service life of solar panels themselves is generally over 15 years, and the longer the time, the more obvious the power attenuation.
Conclusion
Taking a 400W RV photovoltaic system as an example, a typical 400W RV solar panel kits system costs about 6000-8000 yuan. Calculated based on saving 10 yuan in electricity bills per day, it takes about 2 years to recoup the cost. Over 20000 yuan can be saved during the battery life cycle. But solar energy for RVs is only an auxiliary power source for RVs. Just position the purpose of solar energy for RVs, and whether it is worth installing depends entirely on the user's budget. A motorhome is only suitable for long-distance travel if all the electrical equipment is fully equipped!
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